Today we are featuring top-performing “Flexible” balanced mutual funds, which can invest in stocks, bonds, or cash to any degree in search of income or total return.

Investors can find such funds by checking out the entire list of the Zacks #1 Rank Flexible Balanced Funds.

3 Great Picks

Principal SAM Flexible Income A (SAUPX) seeks to provide a high level of total return (consisting of reinvestment of income with some capital appreciation).

The fund operates as a fund of funds and invests principally in underlying funds. It may invest up to 40% of assets in any single fixed-income fund as well as cash equivalents.

Michael D. Meighan has managed the fund since March 2003. The fund has topped total returns of its benchmark index in the last 1-, 3-and 5-year periods.

First American Strategy Conservative Allocation A (FSFIX) was incepted September 2001. The investment seeks a high level of current income consistent with limited risk to capital.

The fund emphasizes bond funds with a small portion of stock funds. Its long-term target allocation is 30% stock funds and 70% bond funds.

This non-diversified fund makes short-term adjustments to take advantage of opportunities in the current market cycle. It has an expense ratio of 0.40%.

Greenspring (GRSPX) seeks long-term capital appreciation with income as a secondary objective. It invests in a blend of securities designed to mitigate volatility.

The fund may invest in companies of any market capitalization and also in firms that are in the process of financial restructurings or liquidations. It primarily focuses on undervalued stocks and special situation bonds that have the potential to provide both capital appreciation and income.

Shareholders have to make a minimum initial investment of $2,000 to enter this Zacks#1 Rank (?Strong Buy?) fund. Its key holdings include Michael Baker Corp. (BKR), Assurant Inc. (AIZ) and FTI Consulting Inc. (FCN).

Discover Many More Funds

Learn more about the new Zacks Mutual Fund Rank and discover some of the best market-beating mutual funds by browsing our new mutual funds section. This part of Zacks.com offers a variety of tools, including mutual fund research, a new mutual fund screener, helpful answers to frequently asked questions and quick access to prospectuses and other information.

By applying the Zacks Rank to mutual funds, investors can find funds that not only outpaced the market in the past but are also expected to outperform going forward.

 

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